Galloway & Collens: From Real Estate to Estate Planning
By Ingrid Sjostrand
FOR 18 YEARS, T. SCOTT GALLOWAY AND HOWARD COLLENS HAVE BEEN RUNNING THEIR LAW PRACTICE TOGETHER, serving the Metro Detroit community both legally and philanthropically. But their professional and personal relationship goes back much further.
“Howard and I first met working for the UAW International Union during law school, then worked together at the UAW Legal Services Plan,” Galloway said. “We’ve worked together our entire professional careers!”
When they decided to start their own practice in 2003, they knew two things: Both wanted to work closer to home and directly impact their local community, and they wouldn’t be able to bring any clients from their former jobs.
“It was a little bit dicey. We had two attorneys, three computers and no clients when we opened. We’ve done nothing but build since,” Collens said. “And we really have been fortunate to be active members of the community the entire time.”
Located at 26075 Woodward Ave. in Huntington Woods, Galloway and Collens PLLC is a boutique firm dealing with a variety of issues that affect everyone living in Metro Detroit. Galloway’s practice focuses on real estate law.
“A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO IS COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL TRANSACTIONAL WORK. We’ve been involved in transactions with and represented some of the biggest names in Detroit sports and entertainment,” he said. “Another interesting niche is working with houses of worship as they look to sell large buildings and plots of land. We also represent real estate brokerages and property management companies.”
Collens, on the other side of the practice, handles matters surrounding estate law.
“My practice focuses on estate planning, estate administration and elder law. Estate planning involves preparing wills, trusts and financial and medical powers of attorney,” Collens said. “The reality is that everyone will die eventually and some of us will become incapacitated, but you won’t necessarily know that this will be your lot. We help anticipate some of those situations, and help our clients reflect on what’s important to them to make sure their wishes are carried out as they hope.”
It might be hard to see how those two worlds tie together, but the practices intersect quite often.
“There’s good overlap in our practice – you could imagine a situation where someone dies and has real estate they need to sell. We can help coordinate between both parties of our practice to make that happen more smoothly and efficiently,” Collens said. “A lot of probate issues also touch on real estate. Someone tries to sell a house only to find out there was an interest that didn’t get resolved and needs to have an estate opened.”
THE LAST TWO YEARS, WITH THE PANDEMIC AND ALL ITS WEIGHT, have been eye-opening to how rapidly things can change and how quickly loss can come. This was something Collens specifically dealt with in his specialty.
“The pandemic has been a tragic time and we see it directly, either dealing with people who have died of COVID or families that have suffered a loss,” he said. “People are more well-attuned with death, and dying in ways because of the pandemic and that means people are more inclined to do planning because they see the realities of what it means not to plan.” While nothing can ease the grief of loss, preparedness can lighten that burden.
Much like their law firm helps people in many difficult situations, Galloway and Collens are also dedicated to making a personal, community impact in Huntington Woods and Berkley.
“We’re locally-based. A lot of our clientele are people that we live near and we’re really grateful for that,” Collens said. “We’ve always felt it’s important to get involved in our community and to support the institutions that make our community what it is.”
“The best part of being in the community is being able to integrate our personal and professional lives to serve neighbors,” Galloway added. “Howard and I are very committed to making Berkley and Huntington Woods an even better place to live than it already is, and we are always looking for ways to lend support.”
